Strip feeding mechanism



Nov. 17, 1953 P. G. STIMSON 2,659,472

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR PERCY 67 ST/MSO/V Nov. 17, 1953 P. G. STIMSON 2,659,472

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 17.4- INVENTOR PERCY G ST/MSO/V Fatented Nov. 17, 1953 STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Percy G. Stimson, Dayton,

Ohio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application December 28, 1949, Serial No. 135,318

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a strip feeding mechanism, and more particularly to a removable drive unit for such mechanism by the use of which the strip feedin increments may he altered within specified limits.

Business machines for the imprinting of desired indicia upon continuous record strips are provided with a fixed increment of feed, for example, six lines to the inch. Such machines are of course also provided with the usual spacing control lever which provides for advancement of the strip in multiples of the basic spacing, for example, single, double or triple spacing.

For illustrative purposes there is shown herein an I. B. M. 'Iabulating Machine, the feeding increment being six lines to the inch, i. e., for each operation of the machine, the record strip is advanced about the platen roll one-sixth of an inch, or a multiple thereof depending upon the positioning of the spacing control lever. It is, however, quite desirable in many instances to use a form designed to receive an imprint every eighth of an inch, for example, while other forms which might be run through the particular machine may have other spacing increments.

Heretofore it has been necessary to have separate machines to perform the imprinting operation upon each type of form, since the spacing increment is factory installed, and once installed cannot be easily and simply altered. The present invention comprises a supplemental unit for altering the spacing increments which unit may be easily incorporated within the machine, and once installed it may be placed in operative or inoperative position by the operator. Such adjustment of the supplemental unit is a very simple matter, or if desired, other supplemental units for different increments of spacing may be easily and readily interchanged by the operator.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of strip feeding mechanisms as herein disclosed, whereby such devices may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient in operation, adaptable to a wide variety of applications, having relatively few parts, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary or supplemental attachment for strip feeding mechanisms which attachment may be readily interchanged or removed from the strip feeding mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a small, compact attachment for conventional strip feeding mechanisms which when in 2 operative position will alter the spacing increment of the basic strip feeding mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact attachment for conventional strip feeding mechanisms which may be easily installed upon the feeding mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for conventional strip feeding mechanism which may be easily placed in operative or inoperative position to thereby alter the spacing increm nts of the feeding mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding attachment having the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein disclosed.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion of a tabulating machine carriage, the auxiliary transmission mechanism installed thereon;

F'ig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the tabulating machine carriage, the auxiliary transmission mechanism being shown in inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the tabulating machine carriage as shown in Fig. 2, disclosing the conventional drive mechanism reiative to the platen shaft, partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the auxiliary transmission mechanism in operative position for actuating the platen in synchronism with the imprinting operation, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a typical tabulating machine whose carriage carries a platen 2 and a series of frictional pressure rollers 3, the rollers 3 being man- :ually adjustable into and out of cooperative relation with the platen 2. In the back of the platen 2 is the usual paper guide i over which the record strip 5, withdrawn from a supply 6 thereof, is directed beneath and around the platen 2.

The carriage comprises a unitary frame structure having relatively spaced end plates 1 and 8 interconnected by tie rods and a shaft 9 journaled therein. The shaft 9, upon which is mounted the platen 2, is best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The carriage is in turn pivotally mounted upon fixed end plates is by links H. The platen and carriage is bodily movable relative to such end plates by a manually operated lever l2 to swing the platen and carriage into and out of operative position during loading of a record strip therein.

Imprinting machines of this type are motorized for continuous power operation, the platen 2 being intermittently rotated through the established spacing increment in timed relation with the operation of the imprinting mechanism l3. Such intermittent rotation of the platen 2 and platen shaft 9 is accomplished through a gear train (a, b, c and d, Fig. 3) comprising an integral and enclosed part of the imprinting machine. This gear mechanism is intermittently energized by the imprinting machine in timed relation with the operation of the imprinting mechanism !3, i. e., for each imprinting operation the gear mechanism is energized to rotate the platen and thereby advance the record strip 5 through one feeding operation to bring a succeeding indicia receiving area of the record strip into alignment with the imprinting mechanism l3 preparatory to the next imprinting operation.

While in such imprinting machines the amount of strip feed constituting line-to-line spacing is fixed, the machine not being structurally adaptable to instantaneous alteration of the strip feeding distance, such machines are functionally adaptable to different spacing. Normally such alteration of the strip feeding cycle requires a service call, during which the gears a, b, c and d are interchanged for gears of other ratios. However, in many installations, a report, journal or other type form having a line spacing different from that for which the machine is set, may be used only a few times a month, in which case the time lost and cost of a service call to reset the spacing is of considerable disadvantage. The present invention has been developed to overcome this disadvantage and utilizes certain parts and portions of the basic machine initially provided to energize special attachments for other work. Fundamentally the present invention provides means whereby the platen 2 may be rotated independently of the platen shaft 9 so that the platen 2 will advance the record strip 5 in timed relation with the imprinting mechanism 43, but of a different extent or increment than the impulse supplied to the shaft 9 by the imprinting machine.

The normal increment of feeding impulse with which the imprinting machine is equipped is transmitted through gears a, b, c and d to platen shaft 8. Upon the opposite end of shaft 9 is a variable mechanism comprising knob M and a variable sleeve 14 which surrounds shaft 9, the sleeve l4 being supported in side plate 8 by hearing I5. Normally carried upon the inner splined end of sleeve I4 is a relatively wide faced gear, which through a similar wide faced idler mounted upon stud I8 provides the drive for various auxiliary attachments mentioned above. It is here that the only modification is made in the basic imprinting machine mechanism.

The relatively wide faced gear normally carried by the sleeve i4 is replaced by a gear 16 while the relatively wide idler is replaced on stud it by an idler I! having constant meshing engagement with gear i6. Stud [8 also supports a second idler gear l9, idler I! being mounted for rotation upon the hub of idler i9. Idler gear 99 in turn meshes with a gear '20 fixedly mounted upon a platen sleeve 2| with which the platen 2 is engaged for unison rotation therewith. With these changes in the basic imprinting machine mechanism it is adapted to receive the auxiliary transmission unit providing strip feed increments different than those induced in the platen shaft 9 by the imprinting machine.

The auxiliary transmission unit 22 encloses within side plates 23-24 and top plate 25, is removably mounted upon a pair of studs 262l supported in end plate 8 of the carriage. Enclosed with the auxiliary unit 22 is a gear train including gear 28 mounted on stud 29 carried by side plate 24 and gear 3% freely mounted on a transverse tie rod 3|. Concentrically mounted on rod 3! is a second gear 32 normally operating in unison with gear 39, the gear 32 meshing with gear 33 carried by stud 32 mounted in side plate 23 in eccentric relation with gear 28 and stud 29 carried by the opposite side plate 24. The ratio of this gear system is such that peripheral distance through which gear 33 is rotated during each actuation of the transmission (representing the extent of strip feed) is different than the peripheral distance through which gear 28 is rotated. When in operative position the gear train within the auxiliary transmission is energized through gears l6 and I1, while the feeding impulse delivered to the platen by the auxiliary transmission is transmitted through gears 59 and .26 to platen sleeve 2!.

The auxiliary transmission unit 22 is detachably mounted upon the carriage of the imprinting machine so as to be easily and quiclrly removed therefrom if necessary or desirable. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the side plate 24 is notched for sliding engagement about stud 2'5 while the front of the auxiliary unit is supported by stud 27. Pivotally mounted upon a tie rod 35 is an oscillatory arm 36, normally biased into engagement with stud 21 by a retractile spring 3'1. The lower end of arm 56 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced notches 3839, either of which may be engaged with stud 2? to support the auxiliary unit upon the carriage. As shown in Fig. 4, stud 2', is engaged by notch 33, in which position the auxiliary transmission unit is in operative position. To place the transmission unit in inoperative position, without r moval of the unit from the carriage, arm 36 is momentarily withdrawn from the position of Fig. 4, the unit swung upwardly about stud 26, and the arm released so that stud 121 will beengaged within notch 39. In this position, as shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary transmission unit is held in elevated position with the gears 28-33 of the transmission unit disengaged from the gears 'El9 carried by the side plate 8 of the carriage.

To maintain the auxiliary transmission unit in position upon studs 2627, a supplemental side plate #35 is anchored to the side 24 which extends outwardly in spaced relation therewith and in overlapping relation with side plate 8 of the carriage. Movement of the auxiliary transmission unit relative to side plate 8 is thereby prevented by engagement of the side plates 40 and 2 3 on opposite sides of the carriage side plate 8 (see Fig. 5).

As evident from the foregoing description, the auxiliary transmission unit while being easily r noved will when in operative position transmit to the platen gear 2% a degree of rotation different than that delivered to the similar gear 16 by the imprinting machine. If the particular machine assembled by the manufacturer embodies intermittent movements corresponding to six lines to the inch, the platen 2 may be rotated more or less, depending upon the particular auxiliary transmission unit used. Such alteration of the feeding impulse in effect increases or decreases the advancement of the strip 5 per imprint operation to permit more or less than the six imprint lines per inch of strip.

Any number of auxiliary transmission devices may be interchanged in the machine, being of size as to fit into the palm of the operator's hand and requiring no special skill, tools, etc., for installation, the auxiliary transmission may be attached. or removed in a few seconds. An im- ;rinting machine may therefore be converted into a more versatile machine for universal applicationt-o all types of record strips regardless of the number of imprints per inch desired, or required on the particular strip being used.

When the auxiliary transmission is in inoperative position (Fig. 2) it is desirable that the platen 2 and platen sleeve ill be driven in unison with the rotation of shaft 9. To this end, a man ual interlock is provided between gears 29 and 15, comprising a plunger All carried by gear 253 and engageable within a recess in gear it. Upon engagement of plunger ii within gear IS, the two gears 2c and it are interlocked for unison rotation.

In the event that the auxiliary transmission is placed in operative position and the disengagement of gears 2i! and l 5 inadvertently overlooked, a safety device is provided within the auxiliary transmission to prevent damage thereto. Referring to Fig. 5, such safety device or coupling coniprises a spring biased ratchet drive between gears 33 and The inner face of gear 35, i. e., the surface adjacent gear 32 is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 42 while the adjacent face of cooperating gear 32 is provided with a series of dogs or pawls as engageable within the teeth it. Under influence of spring at the two gears are normally maintained in close adjacent position upon rod ti with the ratchet mechanism in engagement, whereby rotation of gear 36 is transmitted to gear 32 resulting in unison rotation of the two gears. Iiowever, under excessive strain such as would be created if gears 25 and l 3 should remain in interlocked condition, gear 3!! will slip relative to gear 32, such slippage being permitted by the ratchet type of interlock therebetween. Thus, all chances of injury or damage to the auxiliary transmission by inadvertent operative engagement with the imprinting machine is obviated.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An imprinting machine of the type wherein a power operated platen roll is intermittently rotated through successive step by step movements of predetermined extent in timed relation with the operation of the imprinting mechanism by a power transmission system, characterized by a pair of spaced gears comprising a part of the power transmission system, an auxiliary power transmission unit removably supported upon the imprinting machine and engageable with the power transmission system to alter the predetermined extent of step by step platen movement, including a housing, an open end notch in one margin thereof removably engageable about a projecting stud carried by the imprinting machine, an oscillatory arm supported within said housing, a plurality of open end notches in one margin of said arm, each of which notches are optionally engageable with a second stud projecting from the imprinting machine to locate the unit in operative or inoperative position, a flange carried by said housing and extending in parallel spaced relation therewith for engagement with a portion of the imprinting machine when the housing is in position upon said projecting studs, a gear train enclosed within said housing, the terminal gears of which are engageable with the spaced gears comprising a part of the power transmission system to thereby complete said system, a spring biased safety clutch within said gear train operable to relieve excessive load thereon, and a manually operable interlock between said pair of spaced gears interconnecting said gears for unison rotation to complete the power transmission system when said unit is in inoperative position, the construction and arrangement being such that the auxiliary unit may be readily shifted from inoperative to operative position or vice versa, or be bodily removed from the imprinting machine.

2. An imprinting machine of the type wherein a power operated platen roll is intermittently rotated through successive step by step movements of predetermined extent in timed relation with the operation of the imprinting machine by a power transmission system included therein, characterized by a removable auxiliary power transmission unit additive with respect to said power transmission system and cperatively engageable with said power transmission system at the will of the operator, including a speed change mechanism engageable with spaced points in the power transmission system to alter the extent of the step by step movement of the platen roll, the construction and arrangement being such that the auxiliary unit may be bodily removed from the machine, or placed in operative or inoperative position in relation thereto at the will of the operator without disturbing the structural relationship of the imprinting machine, and an adjustable interlock between said spaced points in the power transmission system made ineffective in the operative position of said auxiliary unit.

3. An imprinting machine of the type wherein a power driven rotary platen roll is intermittently advanced through successive step by step movements of predetermined extent by a power transmission system comprising a part of the imprinting machine, characterized by a bodily removable auxiliary transmission unit detachably engages able with the imprinting machine and with the power transmission system, a gear train enclosed within the auxiliary unit for driving the platen roll differentially with respect to the power transmission system through successive step by step movements of diflerent extent, the input and output members of said gear train being operatively engageable with spaced points of said power transmission system when said auxiliary unit is in operative position, and an adjustable interlock between said spaced points of the power transmission system made ineffective in the operative position of said auxiliary unit.

4. An imprinting apparatus of the type wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively advanced past a record making position through step by step movements of predetermined extent and intermittently arrested with succeeding predetermined areas thereof in registry with such record making position, including a power op.- erated shaft, a sleeve concentrically journaled on said shaft for relative revoluble movement, a platen roll actuated by rotation of the sleeve and having engagement with the strip to advance the strip through successive movements, a gear pinion carried by the sleeve, a gear pinion carried by the shaft, and means for interconnecting said gears for simultaneous movement of different extent including a disengageable interlock between said gear pinions and a supplemental transmission unit detachably engageable with the imprinting apparatus, such supplemental unit being operatively engageable with said gears to differentially transmit to said sleeve the rotary motion of said shaft when said interlock is disengaged.

5. An imprinting apparatus of the type wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively advanced past a record making position through step by step movements of predetermined extent and intermittently arrested with succeeding predetermined areas thereof in registry with such record making position, including a power operated shaft, a sleeve concentrically journaled on said shaft for relative revoluble movement, a platen roll actuated by rotation of the sleeve and having engagement with the strip to advance the strip through successive movements, a gear pinion carried by the sleeve, a gear pinion carried by the shaft, and means for interconnecting said gears for simultaneous movement, including a supplemental transmission unit removably engageable with said imprinting apparatus, terminal members thereon operatively engageable with said gears to differentially transmit to said sleeve rotary motion of said shaft, and a manually operable interlock between said gears engageable therewith to transmit to said sleeve rotary motion of the shaft in unison therewith when the supplemental unit is removed from the apparatus.

6. An imprinting apparatus of the type wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively advanced past a record making position through a step by step movement of predetermined extent and intermittently arrested with succeeding predetermined areas thereof in registry with such record making position, including a concentrically arranged shaft and sleeve capable .of relative rotation, a strip feeding device actuated by rotation of the sleeve for advancing the strip predetermined distances, a disengageable interlock between said shaft and sleeve, bodily shiftable motion transmitting means operative when said interlock is disengaged and having an operative 8 and inoperative position for differentially rotating the sleeve by rotation of the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft.

7. An imprinting apparatus of the type wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively advanced past a record making position through a step by step movement of predetermined extent and intermittently arrested with succeeding predetermined areas thereof in registry with such record making position, including a concentrically arranged shaft and sleeve capable of relative rotation, a strip feeding device actuated by rotation of the sleeve for advancing the strip predetermined distances, bodily shiftable motion transmitting means having an operative and inoperative position for differentially rotating the sleeve by rotation of the shaft, a secondary motion transmitting means interlocking said shaft and sleeve for unison rotation during periods of inoperation of said first motion transmitting means, and means for rotating the shaft.

8. An imprinting apparatus of the type wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively advanced past a record making position through a step by step movement of predetermined extent and intermittently arrested with succeeding predetermined areas thereof in registry with such record making position, including a concentrically arranged shaft and sleeve capable of relative rotation, a strip feeding device actuated by rotation of the sleeve for advancing the strip predetermined distances, actuating means for rotating the shaft through successive fractional portions of a complete rotation, a disengageable positive driving connection between said shaft and said sleeve, and a bodily shiftable unit dctachably mounted upon the imprinting apparatus including motion transmitting means operative during the disengagement of said positive driving connection for transmitting the motion of the shaft to the sleeve by which the sleeve is actuated through different fractional portions of a complete rotation in unison with the fractional rotation of the shaft.

9. In an imprinting apparatus, strip feeding means including a drive shaft, actuating means for advancing the shaft, a sieeve revolubly mounted on said shaft for differential unison rotation therewith, a strip engaging device carried by the sleeve, a motion transmitting gear train including a gear pinion carried by the sleeve, a gear pinion carried by the shaft, a bodily removable train of idler gears having simultaneous operative engagement with both of said pinions, the construction and arrangement being such that the sleeve and strip engaging device carried thereby are actuated differentially relative to the shaft and a mechanical interlock between said pmions operatively engageable therewith upon removal of the train of idler gears, the construc tion and arrangement being such that the sleeve and strip engaging device carried thereby are actuated in unison and to a like extent.

10. In an imprinting apparatus, a strip feeding device, optionally selective means to energize said strip feeding device to progressively advance a continuous strip of material past an imprinting position, actuating means common thereto, and adjustable control mechanism common to the strip feeding device and actuating means, comprising a bodily removable power transmission unit detachably engageable with the imprinting apparatus and effective when in operative position to interconnect the actuating means and the strip feeding device to advance the strip a predetermined distance past the imprinting position, and a mechanical interlock between said strip feeding device and actuating means effective when in operative position to interconnect the actuating means and strip feeding device to advance the strip a difierent predetermined distance past the imprinting position.

11. In an imprinting apparatus of the type wherein a strip feeding device is initially actuated by coacting synchronous actuating means through successive partial rotations of a prede termined extent to advance a strip of material prescribed distances past an imprinting position, means for actuating the strip feeding device through partial rotations of different extent from those initially provided in the apparatus for advaneing the strip of material different prescribed distances past an imprinting position, comprising a bodily removable unit detachably supported upon the imprinting apparatus and engageable at the will of the operator with the actuating means to thereby alter the feeding impulse delivered to the strip feeding device by the actuating means, such unit being likewise removable at the will of the operator without disturbing the imprinting apparatus or the actuating means to thereby return the apparatus to the initial feeding impulse, and a mechanical interconnection in said actuating means made alternatively effective and ineffective as said removable unit respectively is disengaged from and engaged with said actuating means.

12. In a strip feeding apparatus, a tubular shaft for telescopic engagement over a drive shaft, a strip feeding device carried by the tubular shaft, a rotary drive member carried by the tubular shaft, a rotary drive member carried by the drive shaft, and dual means for interconnecting said rotary drive members, including a rotary power transmission unit bodily removable from the apparatus, which when operatively mounted thereon interconnects the rotary drive members for unison rotation of different extent, and a mechanical interlock between the rotary drive members operable at the will of the operator for interconnecting the rotary drive members for unison rotation of like extent.

13. In a, strip feeding apparatus, a drive shaft, actuating means for rotating the shaft through successive partial rotation of predetermined extent, said actuating means including a pair of gears in side by side relation and a mechanical interlock between said gears adjustable to eifective and ineffective position, a strip feeding device mounted on said shaft for differential rotation in the same direction as the shaft and engageable with a strip of material for advancing the strip prescribed distances, and optionally selective motion transmitting means for actuat ing the strip feeding device in unison with rotation of the shaft through partial rotations of different extent comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable units, each of which includes a gear train the terminals of which are respectively engageable with the gears of said pairs of gears, and each of which further is detachably engageable as a unit with the strip feeding apparatus at the will of the operator, means for removably supporting said unit upon the apparatus, and means for supporting the said unit in alternate positions of pivotal adjustment representing operative and inoperative position, said mechanical interlock being made ineffective at the will of the operator in the operative position of adjustment of saidunit.

PERCY G. STIMSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

